Tote case for bottles and the like



1966 R. L. BEESLEY ETAL 3,

TOTE CASE FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 21, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 L 3 I I! l /24 24-" I 1 Vi '10 t i 5 s i r i i l 3 20 b f INVENT/ORS. i 3 j BY ZZO ZZM A /ZiiZS H TTORNEYS Nov. 1, 1966 R. L. BEESLEY ETAL 3,282,461

TOTE CASE FOR BOTTLES AND THE LI KE Filed Jan. 21, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. Robe/f L. Bees/ y fh [a5 yigrlph .lY/af WRNEYS a 1966 R. I... BEESLEY ETAL, 3 3

TOTE CASE FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 21, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS. Rober/ L. Bees/e 1 Nov. 1, 1966 R. 1.. BEESLEY ETAL. 3,282,461

TOTE CASE FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE 4 Sheefs-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 21, 1964 INVENTORS. Robe/f L. Bees/fe BY ph Mal hlas United States Patent 3,282,461 TOTE CASE FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Robert L. Beesley and Rudolph H. Matthias, Saginaw,

Mich., assignors to The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 339,161 9 Claims. (Cl. 22021) This invention relates generally to tote cases, and, more particularly, to cases for bottles and the like where it is desirable to maintain the contents in an environment substantially void of light during shipment and storage.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a molded plastic tote case which is not generally subject to warpage after being formed, demonstrates improved stacking strength, provides increased bottle protection, permits better sanitation, has adequate light shielding characteristics, and possesses a novel hinged cover to protect it against wear and impact.

Briefly then, the present invention resides in a molded tote case having scalloped side walls. Integrally attached to the side walls are hinged cover parts which cooperate with the side walls to provide a substantially adequate light shielded case when the cover parts are in a closed position. Also included is a uniquely designed series of individual bottle compartments all provided with drainage ports in registration with outlets in the bottom of the case for clean out and sanitation purposes. Details of these features can be had by reference to the following description wherein like reference characters are employed throughout the drawing to illustrate corresponding features thereof, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a tote case constructed according to the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view thereof:

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view thereof;

FIGURE 5 is another top view thereof only with the cover parts in an open position;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view thereof taken along the reference line 66 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a partial cross-sectional view thereof taken generally along the reference line 77 of FIGURE 5.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, tote case 10 includes generally rectangular side walls 12, end walls 14, integrally attached hinged cover parts 16, and bottom wall 18. The case is preferably molded and can be forrned of a lightweight, strong thermoplastic material such a high impact polystyrene, rigid polyethylene or polypropylene or of any other material which has generally similar characteristics of formability, rigidity, strength, impact resistance, weight, etc.

Side walls 12 and end walls 14 are generally scalloped, with half round scallops 20 for example, to provide increased stacking rigidity and improved warpage control of the overall case structure. Scallops 20 conform generally to the outer configuration or periphery of individual rounded compartments 50 about the inner periphery of the case, which can be partially seen from FIGURE 4 and which will be more completely described hereinafter. Adjacent scallops 20 meet a juncture lines 22, which juncture lines extend about half-way up the case side walls, which height corresponds to that of the inner compartments to be later described. Above that level, and intermediate rounded corner 24 which protrude beyond the outermost extent of scallops 20, are substantially flat billboard areas 26 and 28 on the side walls 12 and end walls 14, respectively. Preferably, hand openings 30 are provided in billboard areas 28 which handle openings "ice have, at least partially there-around and extending outwardly therefrom, a reinforcing flange 32.

Cover parts 16 preferably include stepped, downwardly extending (when in a closed position) end flanges 34 for fitting closely adjacent end walls 14. An edge step portion 36 is provided so that the inner part of the hinged cover flange 34 can fit snugly with the protruding portion of each rounded corner 24. Cover parts 16 are of such a width that they will, when in a closed position, have inner and downwardly extending center flanges 37 meeting along a juncture 38 to substantially prevent any light from entering therebetween when so closed.

FIGURES 5 and 7 also illustrate an inner spaced ridge 40 located about the hinged side and around the corners of the cover so as to be adapted to be in juxtaposition with the inner surface of side walls 12 and around the inside of corner 24. The corner extent of ridge 40 is made so as to be overlapping with flange 34 so that the corner portions of each provide a substantially light shielding channel between the cover and the side and end walls. A similar downwardly extending ridge 42 is formed at the opposite edges of flanges 34 to act as a light shielding channel at the corners where flanges 34 and 36 meet. If desired, reinforcing ribs 44 can be provided between flanges 36 and ridges 40 to prevent warping of cover parts 16.

If the case is of polyethylene, polypropylene, or the like, cover parts 16 can be integrally connected to side walls 12 by a hinge piece 46 formed therebetween, the hinge piece 46 having separations 47 at spaced intervals therealong.

To cooperate with the other light avoiding features of the case, a generally opaque film-like shield of material 49 can "be suspended from the inner surface of wall 14 over each handle opening 30 to prevent light from coming in through the opening when the case is not being handled. Preferably it is of a flexible film so that it can be heat sealed or adhesively attached or otherwise secured to the case end wall, and can easily be pushed inwardly by ones fingers when gripping the case through the openings 30. However, it is to be understood that other flexible substantially opaque materials, such as certain cloths, can likewise be employed.

The inner compartmented area can best be seen by viewing FIGS. 4 to 7. From the bottom of the case 10 to approximately halfway up the height of the walls 12 and 14 of the case is located an integrally molded network 48 which defines a plurality of individual compartments 50 (preferably cylindrical in horizontal cross-section when circular containers are to be employed) for each of the containers to be contained within the case 10.

The lower extent of each compartment 50 is formed by the inside surface of "bottom wall 18, the bottom wall containing a plurality of preferably circular outlets 52 at the juncture of each of the adjacent compartments 50. Also formed by the edge of the adjacent but separate compartments 50, through molded sections 48, are ports 54 which have registration with bottom outlets 52 for adequate drainage between the compartments as well as through the bottom of the case. Additional channels 56 can be provided in the joining portions of section 48 intermediate adjacent compartments 50. Channels 56 open directly through outlets 52 for ready flushing thereof.

Ridges 58 extend upwardly from the top surface of molded section 48 along the upper portion of side and end walls 12 and 14 to reinforce the overall case'structure. Where certain ones of ridges 58 engage end walls 14, they are preferably spaced so as to be located on each side of handle opening 30 to avoid interference when someone is gripping the case.

While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Accordingly, what is claimed as new is:

1. A tote case for bottles and the like, said case comprising generally rectangularly-shaped side Walls and end walls and a bottom Wall, a network integrally molded with said Walls and defining a plurality of individual adjoining compartments extending from said bottom Wall to a height about one-half that of said side and end walls, scallops formed about said side and end walls extending from said bottom wall to a height substantially that of said compartments and having configurations substantially conforming to that of the outer periphery of the peripheral ones of said compartments, said side and end walls meeting at corners, said corners having a generally rounded cross-section protruding beyond the outer extent of said scallops and to a height greater than that of said scallops, fiat billboard areas occupying the area of said side and end walls above said scallops and extending between adjacent corners, cover parts integral with and hingedly connected to the upper extent of the flat billboard area of each of said side walls and extending across the top of said case upwardly toward each other, when in a closed position, so as to form a juncture substantial- 1y preventing any light from entering therebetween.

2. The tote case of claim 1 wherein the billboard areas of said end walls include hand openings therein with flexible opaque film-like shields attached to said end Walls and extending across said hand openings.

3. The tote case of claim 1 wherein each of said cover parts include abutting downwardly extending center flanges at said juncture.

4. The tote case of claim 3 wherein each of said cover parts include stepped downwardly extending end flanges fitting closely adjacent said end walls and corners.

5. The tote case of claim 4 wherein each of said cover parts include downwardly extending inner ridges juxtapositioned with the inner surfaces of said side walls and corners and end walls so as to form with said end flanges and other portions of said cover parts, channels for substantially shielding the confines of said case from light.

6. The tote case of claim 5 wherein said bottom wall has a plurality of circular outlets at the juncture of and extending into adjacent ones of said compartments.

7. The tote case of claim 6 wherein said compartments include ports in registration with those of adjacent compartments and with said outlets.

8. The tote case of claim 5 wherein said side Walls, end walls, bottom wall and cover parts are integral and molded from a thermoplastic material.

9. The tote case of claim 5 wherein the hinged juncture between said cover parts and side walls include separations at spaced intervals therealong.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 194,808 3/ 1963 Stevens. 2,411,673 11/ 1946 Vechey. 2,586,156 2/ 1952 Ferguson 22952 2,873,782 2/1959 Gunn. 3,080,087 3/ 1963 Cloyd. 3,100,056 8/ 1963 Friday 22031 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,308,741 10/ 1962 France.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE E. LOWRANCE. Examiner. 

1. A TOTE FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE, SAID CASE COMPRISING GENERALLY RECTANGULARLY-SHAPED SIDE WALLS AND END WALLS AND A BOTTOM WALL, A NETWORK INTEGRALLY MOLDED WITH SAID WALLS AND DEFINING A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL ADJOINING COMPARTMENTS EXTENEDING FROM SAID BOTTOM WALL TO A HEIGHT ABOUT ONE-HALF THAT OF SAID SIDE AND END WALLS, SCALLOPS FORMED ABOUT SAID SIDE AND END WALLS EXTENDING FROM THE BOTTOM WALL TO A HEIGHT SUBSTANTIALLY THAT OF SAID COMPARTMENTS AND HAVING CONFIGURATIONS SUBSTANTIALLY CONFORMING TO THAT OF THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF THE PERIPHERAL ONES OF SAID COMPARTMENTS, SAID SIDE AND END WALLS MEETING AT CORNERS, SAID CORNERS HAVING A GENERALLY ROUNDED CROSS-SECTION PROTRUDING BEYOND THE OUTER EXTENT OF SAID SCALLOPS AND TO A HEIGHT GREATER THAN THE OF SAID SCALLOPS, FLAT BILLBOARD AREAS OCCUPYING THE AREA OF SAID SIDE AND END WALLS ABOVE SAID SCALLOPS AND EXTENDING BETWEEN ADJACENT CORNERS, COVER PARTS INTEGRAL WITH AND HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE UPPER EXTENT OF THE FLAT BILLBOARD AREA OF EACH CASE UPWARDLY TOWARD EACH OTHER, WHEN THE TOP OF EACH CASE UPWARDLY TOWARD EACH OTHER, WHEN IN A CLOSED POSITION, SO AS TO FORM A JUNCTURE SUBSTANTIALLY PREVENTING ANY LIGHT FROM ENTERING THEREBETWEEN. 